• Latest
The Importance Of Making A Proper Will

A Storm In A Teacup?

9 years ago
Grenlec notice

Changes in Government charges on electricity effective 1 February 2023

14 hours ago
Subcommittee to aggressively look at construction of Grenada’s Halls of Justice

17 legally non-compliant NGOs struck off

16 hours ago
Carvel Lett is new Secretary to Cabinet

Carvel Lett is new Secretary to Cabinet

16 hours ago
C&W Communications sponsors CANTO’s AGM in Suriname

C&W Communications sponsors CANTO’s AGM in Suriname

17 hours ago
Today in History

Today in History: 1 February 1880 Prisons at Richmond Hill

22 hours ago
Gazetted increase date is 1 February 2023

Gazetted increase date is 1 February 2023

2 days ago
Government celebrates exemplary service of Ruth Elizabeth Rouse

Government celebrates exemplary service of Ruth Elizabeth Rouse

2 days ago
NIS paid more than it collected for the first 6 months of 2018

NIS contribution rate increase

2 days ago
G-CREWS Stakeholder Consultation

G-CREWS Stakeholder Consultation

2 days ago
Warm weather training camp held in Grenada

Warm weather training camp held in Grenada

3 days ago
Nawasa to charge monthly environmental levy

Nawasa to charge monthly environmental levy

3 days ago
Airbnb properties may cause less rental accommodation for locals

Global Tourism Resilience Crisis Management Centre project will benefit Grenada

3 days ago
NOW Grenada
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
NOW Grenada
No Result
View All Result

A Storm In A Teacup?

This story was posted 9 years ago
8 April 2014
in OPINION/COMMENTARY
4 min. read
Sir Lawrence A Joseph
Share

By Dr Lawrence A Joseph

Generally I refrain from giving commentaries on topics which appear to have current political overtones. However when issues arise which seem directly or indirectly to attack or purport to attack me and my family, I feel I have a duty to give an appropriate response.

There is no doubt that democracy is alive and well in Grenada and people in general have the opportunity to express their own views as to the governance of the country. However, despite having this opportunity, it is most important that one must not deliberately or negligently misrepresent the facts.

In an article entitled “NDC Moves against Trotman–Joseph” which was published in one of our local newspapers, it was claimed that my distinguished colleague, Senator Nazim Burke, wrote a letter recently to the Governor General — which letter was published in the said newspaper on 4 April last. In that letter, the goodly Senator gives the impression that my wife’s assets and liabilities would have to be declared to the Integrity Commission only because I, as President of the Senate and therefore a person in public life, would have to include those in my declarations to the Commission.

He went on further to state that “It means, Your Excellency, that Mrs. Trotman–Joseph’s assets, liabilities and interests are being declared to herself and are subject to scrutiny, examination and possible investigation by herself.” He therefore considered that it was “a wholly untenable situation” and asked the Governor General to procure the resignation of my wife as a member of the Integrity Commission.

It is important to note that whether or not members of the Commission have spouses who are persons in public life, the Commissioners themselves are obligated by themselves to declare their assets and liabilities together with those of their spouses and their children. The First Schedule to the Integrity in Public Life Act includes all members of the Commission as being persons in public life and section 28 of the Act mandates that such persons must furnish the appropriate declarations to the Commission.

Therefore, even if I am not President of the Senate, and thus not a person in public life, my wife would be obligated to declare her assets and liabilities to “herself” in any event. To give the impression therefore that Commissioners would have to declare their assets and liabilities only as a consequence of their spouses being persons in public life does not sit on all fours with the truth.

In a situation where matters pertaining to individual members of the Commission come up before the Commission, the relevant persons would have a duty to remove themselves from the relevant discussions. This is a generally accepted principle of recusal which is utilised in situations where it appears that secondary interests conflict with primary interests. In the same way, if a matter concerning the spouse or close relative of one of the members of the Commission comes up before the Commission, then the relevant member would inevitably have to recuse himself or herself from the relevant meeting of the Commission.

A significant question that needs to be asked therefore is: Why does the Senator write to the Governor General asking the Governor General to procure the resignation of Mrs Trotman–Joseph from the Commission? Is there something in the mortar besides the pestle? The Senator must know or ought to know that Section 5 of the Act spells out who can become or continue to be a member of the Commission. Mrs Trotman-Joseph has not been restricted in any way by any of the provisions therein. Once a person has been appointed as a member of the Commission the tenure of office would be for a period not exceeding three years although that person would be eligible for re-appointment.

Additionally, the only way that an existing member of the Commission may be removed is in accordance with Section 9 of the Act. This section provides that a member may be removed from office only for inability to exercise the functions of his or her office whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause or for misbehaviour. In this situation a recommendation has to go to the Governor General from a Disciplinary Tribunal specially appointed for that purpose. The Senator has not given any valid reason to indicate that Mrs Trotman-Joseph does have an “inability to exercise the functions of her office.”

I am tempted to believe therefore that by the publication of the above-mentioned letter in the local newspaper, the Senator is not being very serious. He is just attempting to stir up a storm in a teacup. This storm however, would only be restricted to the teacup.

NOW Grenada is not responsible for the opinions, statements or media content presented by contributors. In case of abuse, click here to report.
Tags: assetcommissiondemocracygovernor-generalintegritylawrence josephnazim burkepublicsenateteacuptrotman-joseph
Next Post
Heritage Theatre: 600 Performances

Heritage Theatre: 600 Performances

Comment on post Cancel reply

Please enter your valid email address.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

© NOW Grenada. All Rights Reserved. Published by Aqua Design Inc. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

Copyright NOW Grenada

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. Visit our Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.

Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Visit our Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.